Alumni Spotlight: Merav Stein ‘07
As a seventh grader at Schechter, Dr. Merav Stein ’07 discovered her love of science in Mrs. Hakimian’s classroom. That early spark guided her toward a remarkable career helping animals and the people who love them. Today, Merav is a veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at the Veterinary Specialty Center in Bannockburn, where she works to improve the lives of pets and their families.
Merav Stein ‘07 traces her strong interest in science back to Mrs. Hakimian’s seventh-grade science class at Schechter. “Mrs. Hakimian’s passion for teaching motivated me to engage fully with my science courses and I initially considered going into science education,” she says. “I then started to find inspiration in the love that people have for their pets, and that pets have for their families.”
Her deep curiosity about how living systems work, combined with her love of animals, shaped the path that led her to her current role as a veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at the Veterinary Specialty Center in Bannockburn, Illinois. Every day, Merav works with cats and dogs facing complex neurological conditions — from seizures to intervertebral disc disease to balance and muscle-weakness issues.
“It’s an exciting and deeply meaningful career,” she says. “I love working with a compassionate team dedicated to caring for pets, empowering owners and educating them about how to take care of their pets to provide the best quality of life to those who can’t advocate for themselves.”
Merav also found inspiration after shadowing Dr. Michael Podell, a renowned veterinary neurologist and the father of her Schechter classmate and friend, Rachel Podell’s ’07. He opened my eyes to the incredible work that veterinary neurologists do, and has continued to be an invaluable mentor.”
Following her graduation from Schechter, Merav attended Ida Crown Jewish Academy and Barnard College, where she studied biology. She later attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania. One aspect of her work that she loves is that no two days are alike. “I may see everything from a dachshund with back pain to a cat with balance issues. Each case is a puzzle and solving it means improving the lives of both the animals and their owners.”
Outside of her work, Merav enjoys walking her dog, Libby, through the streets of Chicago and spending cozy evenings with her cats, Vivaldi and Renoir. She’s also an avid reader and museum enthusiast who treasures time spent with family and reconnecting with childhood friends back home.
When reflecting on her years at Schechter, Merav credits her experience with nurturing not only her intellectual curiosity but also her Jewish identity. “Schechter taught me to think for myself, to ask questions, and to approach learning with confidence,” she says. “It also instilled in me a strong, positive Jewish and Zionistic identity, something I’m very proud of.”
Merav adds that she feels immense gratitude to be part of a community that continues to celebrate its alumni and inspires them to pursue their diverse paths. “Schechter was a positive, welcoming environment where I could grow into who I am today.”
In addition to her work in veterinary medicine, she says that she is proud to be a strong, caring Jewish role model to her niece, Maya ’33, and her nephews.
Her advice to current students and to her younger self? “Embrace mistakes. They’re a natural and essential part of learning and often where the most meaningful growth happens.”
